Valve



B. CYR

VALVE Nov. 21, 1939.

Filed Jan. 10, 1936 Be rg'amzk 6:91

llll ll WIW Patented Nov. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 10, 1936, Serial No. 58,530

4 Claims.

This invention relates to valves, and more particularly to condition responsive valves adapted 'to control the supply of a fluid to a predetermined point,' as, for example, the flow of fluid fuel, to a burner.

An object of this invention is the provision of an improved valve, responsive to the temperature of an associated medium, such as water in a storage tank and adapted to control the supply of fuel to aheater to regulate the temperature of the water.

A further object is the provision of improved means to adjust the valve to respond to different temperatures.

Another object is to provide an automatic thermostatic valve of sturdy and relatively inexpensive construction, which is reliable and constant in operation.

Another objectis to provide an improved valve structure which may be readily mounted adja-' cent a container for a fluid, the temperature of which is adapted to control the operation of the valve.

Other objects will in 'part be obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Accordingly, the invention consists in the features of construction, arrangements of parts, and combinations of elements which will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter de- 30, scribed and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention: V

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view, partly in section, of a conventional storage tank and heater having the valve structure of the present invention associated therewith; V

Figure 2-is an enlarged, detailed, side elevacasing showing -one method of mounting the tion of the improved valve-and its associated cated as at III. A heater, generally indicated at contains a heating coil l2 which in turn is connected to tank III by pipes l3 and M. A suitable burner is generally indicated at l6, and a suitable supply line I! connects with burner l6 through a'valve, the housing of which is generally indicated at 20. Valve housing 20 comprises a casing 2| and a suitable assembly panel 22, which will hereinafter be termed a casting. Suitable lugs 23 may be integral with casing 2| or may be aflixed thereto in any suitable manner. Casting 22 may be detachably connected to casing 2| in any suitable manner, as by a pin 24 adapted to project through an aperture 25' and suitable holding screws 26 threadedly engaging apertures (not shown) in casing 2|. A suitable method of'securing casing 2|, and hence valve housing 20, to receptacle I0 may comprise the winding of a plurality of strands of wire 21 (Figures 1 and 2), about lugs 23 and suitably tightening the same to hold valve 20 in related assembly with tank Ill. The rear wall 2|a of casing 2| may, if desired, be arcuate (see Figure 4) in conflugation in order to facilitate mounting on a curved surface, such as tank It. It has been found desirable in some instances to cover receptacle III with a suitable heat insulating covering 28 in order to eliminate, in so far as possible, the effect of ambient temperature on the fluid therein contained.

It will now be seen that rear wall 2|a of casing 2|, when mounted in the manner set forth a above, is in close proximity to the surface of receptacle l0 and heat from receptacle I0 is thus communicated directly to valve 20 through the conductivity of the material of which the casing may be constructed. In practice it has been found desirable to provide a relatively large aperture l9 (see Figures 3 and 4), in rear wall 2|a of easing 2| adjacent the surface of receptacle ID in order that heat may pass directly to the interior ofeasing 2| for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. j Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, casing 2| includes a passage 30,-for fuel, such as gas, and has a suitable partition 3| incorporated therein. An aperture 29 in partition 3| provides for a free flow of gas through passage 30 when a valve 32 is opened, in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. A suitable valve seat 33 may be incorporated with aperture 23in any desired manner, such as by brazing or welding. A downwardly depending lug 34 extends directly below aperture 29 and has an opening 35 therethrough to accommodate a valve stem 36, which in turn engages valve 32 and seats in a suitable opening 31 therein. Valve 32 is comprised of a rim 40, a downwardly depending portion 4| having a cam surface adapted to bear on valve seat 33, and an upstanding portion 42 adapted to accommodate an end of a spring 43, which is preferably frustro-conical in shape. A suitable cap 44 threadly engages an aperture 45 in the top wall of passage 38 directly above valve 32. Cap 44 has a downwardly depending threaded annulus, the interior portion of which serves to confine the upper end of spring 43.

It will now be seen that spring 43, held by cap 44 and engaging rim 4!! of valve 32, serves to hold valve 32 tightly against valve seat 33 in the absence of pressure on valve stem 36, such pressure being provided in a manner and for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

A by-pass 46 extends around partition 3| in order that a suitable fiow of gas may pass to burner [6 in order that a constant low flame may be maintained therein. The quantity of flow of gas through by-pass 46 is regulated by means of an adjusting screw 41 which threadedly engages a suitable aperture 48 in casting 22. The lower end of screw 41 comprises a needle valve 49 which coacts with an aperture 50 of suitable diameter. An adjusting nut 5|, threaded on the upper portion of screw 41 serves to prevent accidental rotation thereof. A gas tight seal 52, which may comprise a washer of any suitable character and which may or may not be fitted into suitable recesses in casting 22 and nut 5|, is interposed between the lower surface of nut 5| and the adjacent surface of casting 22.

It will now appear that upon rotation of nut 5| in one direction, screw 41 may be rotated in the opposite direction to a limit determined by the abutment of the lower surface of nut 5| with casting 22 to determine the amount of gas which may pass needle valve 49 through aperture 50.

Having particular reference to Figure 3, it will be seen that casting 22 includes a downwardly depending lug 53 which extends, when the parts are in assembled relation, nearly the entire depth of casing 2|. A thermally responsive bimetallic element 54 is secured to lug 53 by any suitable means, such as screws 55, immediately adjacent aperture 29. One end 56a, of a lever 56 is associated with an adjusting screw 51, the construction and purpose of which will be more fully de-' scribed hereinafter. This association may take I the form of a loose connection comprised by the engagement of a pin 58 at an extremity of screw 51 and a suitable aperture 59 adjacent end 56a of lever 56. Lever 56 has a centrally located projection 60 which abuts an end of bimetallic element 54. The opposite end 561) of lever 56 bears a suitable recess 6| within which valve stem 36 is held.

It will now be seen that movement of bimetallic element 54 in a direction towards valve 32 is transmitted to projection 68 and thence through end 562; of lever 56, end 56a, through its pin and aperture connection, serving as' a fulcrum, to valve stem 36, which in turn forces valverespect to casing 2|, or outwardly with respect to receptacle I 0, and hence opens the valve 32 in the manner above described to permit operation of burner l6. Burner |6 now raises the tempera- .ture of the fluid in receptacle I to its former level, whereupon bimetallic element 54 again flexes outwardly with respect to casing 2| and inwardly with respect to receptacle 8 to permit the valve to close.

Accordingly, it will be seenthat a desired temperature for the medium contained in receptacle It) may be predetermined and this temperature 'maintained at all times, by reason of the above described sequence of operations, which, it will be readily understood, is continuous so long as the temperature of the fluid in receptacle l0 fluctuates.

Adjusting screw 51 has, as above stated, a pin 58 at its lower end for the purpose of engaging aperture 59- of lever 56. A suitable operating handle 62, havingan indicating pointer 63 thereon, is carried by the opposite end of screw 51. Handle 62 threadedly engages screw 51 and is secured against rotation thereupon, asby a set screw 64. A spring 65 abuts the outer surface of casting 22 and the lower surface 62a of operating handle 62 toprovide sufficient friction to preclude accidental rotation. If desired, spring 65 may seat in a suitable recess 66 in the top surface of casting 22. Appropriate indicia such as hot, cold, and medium, may be disposed on the outer surface of casting 22 as shown in Figure 5.

It will now be seen that due to the threaded engagement of screw 51 with a threaded aperture 61 in casting 22, rotation of operating handle 62 will cause screw 51 to move longitudinally and hence end 560, of lever 56 will move inwardly or outwardly with respect to receptacle ID a distance determined by the amount of rotation.

Assuming now that the parts are as shown in Figure 3, with operating handle 62 turned to hot position, a rotation of handle 62 through one-half turn to medium position will cause a slight, but perceptible, movement of pin 58 away from element 54 and hence a corresponding movement of end 56a of lever 56 which will in turn move end 56b toward element 54, necessitating the movement of bimetallic element 54 through a greater distance in order to open valve 32. Further rotation of handle 62 to cold position will cause a correspondingly greater movement of end 56a of lever 56 and accordingly necessitate a still further movement of bimetallic element 54 in order to open valve 32. Since the amount of movement of element 54 is proportional to temperature changes, it will be seen that the temperature at which valve 32 opens may be regulated by means of the positioning of end 56a of lever 56 through operating handle 62, and that accordingly a relatively wide range of adjustment is obtained by the mechanism above disclosed. Complete rotation of handle 62 is prevented by any suitable means, such as a stop 68 on the adjacent exterior surface of casting 22.

If desired, a vent 69 (see Figure may be placed at any desired place in casing 2| or casting 22 to prevent the compression of gases around the operating mechanism.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying l the two compartments,

drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A thermostatic device adapted for surface mounting on a receptacle comprising a housing, a wall dividing said housing into two compartments, one compartment being adjacent the receptacle, a temperature responsive element positioned wholly in said one compartment, the wall of said one compartment to be disposed adjacent said receptacle having a large aperture therein permitting access of heat from said receptacle directly to said element, a valve in said other compartment controlling flow of fluid through a fuel supply line, a valve stem connected to said valve and extending through the wall separating an operating lever for said valve stem in said one compartment, said lever being associated with said valve stem and thermostatic element so that as the thermostatic element moves in one direction in response to a temperature change in the medium in said receptacle, said valve is moved to one position, means biasing said valve towards its other position, said housing completely surrounding said thermostatic element except forsaid opening so as to impede access of heat from any source other than said receptacle to said element, and means in said one compartment, accessible exteriorly of the casing, for adjusting the fulcrum of said lever, whereby the position of said valve for any temperature of the fluid in the tank, may be varied.

2. A thermostatic valve unit comprising a casing structure divided by a partition into a pair of compartments, said partition preventing communication between said compartments, the outer wall of one of said compartments having a surface adapted to be disposed in close proximity to a receptacle adapted to contain a heated fluid, said wall being provided with a large opening whereby the temperature of the air in said one compartment will vary in accordance with variationsin the temperature of the fluid in said receptacle, a valve in said other compartment for controlling the flow of fuel for heating the fluid in said receptacle, means in said one compartment responsive to temperature variations therein operatively connected to said valve for positioning said valve to proportion the flow of fuel in accordance with the temperature of the fluid in said receptacle, means in said one compartment protected from the flow of fuel by said partition and accessible from the exterior of said compartment for varying the action on said valve by said means responsive to temperature variations.

3. A thermostatic valve unit comprising a casing structure divided by a partition into a pair of compartments, said partition preventing communication between said compartments, the outer wall of one of said compartments having a surface adapted to be disposed in close proximity to a receptacle adapted to contain a heated fluid, said wall being provided with a large opening whereby the temperature of the air in said one compartment will vary in accordance with variations in the temperature of the fluid in said receptacle, a temperature responsive element having a portion gradually movable into a plurality of positions in response to variations in temperature in said receptacle, said element being mounted in said one compartment; a valve in said other compartment for controlling the flow of fuel for heating the fluid in said receptacle, means extending through said partition connecting said thermostatic element and said valve whereby said valve is positioned in accordance with the temperature of the fluid in said receptacle, means in said one compartment protected from the flow of fuel by said partition and operable from the exterior of said compartment for varying the action of the temperature responsive element on said valve.

4. A thermostatic valve unit comprising a casing structure divided by a partition-into a pair of compartments, said partition preventing communication between said compartments, the outer wall of one of said compartments having a surface adapted to be disposed in close proximity to a receptacle adapted to contain a heated fluid, said wall being provided with a large opening whereby the temperature of the air in said one compartment will vary in accordance with variations in the temperature of the fluid in said receptacle, a temperature responsive element having a portion gradualy movable into a plurality of positions in response to variations in temper-- ature in said receptacle, said element being mounted in said one compartment, a valve in said other compartment for controlling the flow of BENJAmN CYR. 

